Notes for: John Berdine / Bodine

From Ronny Bodine:

John Bodine was baptized 3 June 1753 at the Dutch Reformed Church of New York City. As a child he went with his parents to North Carolina. The marriage bond of John 'Berdine' and Penny Willit of 22 Dec 1784 was recorded in Wake County, North Carolina to which place his father had lately moved. On 7 Dec 1787, he was included in a list of persons to clear a road (Wake Co. Minutes, 2: 376). In 1790, he was a resident of Hillsborough District in Wake County, and in 1797 he and Smith King were buyers at the estate sale of John E. Willit (recorded 6 July 1797, Wake Co. Wills, D: 218).

The published tax lists for Wilson County for 1803-1807 do not reflect the presence of any person named Bodine or its variants. It must have been soon afterwards that John Bodine brought his family to Wilson County as in a deed of 22 June 1808, there is mention of the "Mouth of Bodine's branch" in reference to a branch of the Cumberland River flowing through Wilson County (Tennessee Land Grants, C: 180).

Wilson Co., TN, Will Book 14 (or 1), (pg. 395?): An account of the estate of John Bodine toke this 8th day of Jany. 1814. Penny Bodine a lot of hoggs $12, Everet Mitchell one sow and pigs $2, Penny Bodine one sorrel mare [etc.....], Burwell Bodine one gun $8, Penny Bodine one bed and furniture $7, James Mitchell one kettle $7.25, Penny Bodine 4 axes & one wedge $8 [etc....] ][total] $254.68 1/4 The foregoing was exhibited at [March Farm?] 1814 and ordered to be recorded. Recorded the 3rd May 1814. attest John [Moore?], clerk of Wilson County Court. (Wilson Co. Wills & Inventories, 1802-1814, p. 395)

1820 Census of Wilson Co., TN: Peny Berdine: males 1(0-9), 1(10-15), 1(16-18), 1(26-45), females 2(10-15), 2(16-26), 1(26-45), 1(45+).

1830 Census of Wilson Co., TN: Penny Berdine: males 1(15-19), females 1(15-19), 1(20-29), 1(60-69).

1 Oct 1847 Penelope Bodoin, (also in Wills and Inventories, 1843-1848, p. 395) Wilson County Will Book 11, p. 395:

State of Tennessee, Wilson County
[in the clerk's hand] This is my last will & testament. Item 1st. I will that all my just debts be [paid]. Item 2cd. I will that my land be divided into two equal tracts, beginning [at the] southeast corner thence with Mark Jackson' line was to take half, [...] west with the west boundary line. The south tract for the benefit of [Winnefred] Bodoin & Charity Bennet her lifetime then to her children. [...] Item 3rd. I will that the north tract be sold and after my debts are [paid,] the balance to be equally divided between the other legatees. Item 4th. I will that all my household and kitchen furniture [...] be applied to the benefit of Winnefred Bodoin & Charity [Bennet] and her children.
October 1st 1847 attes. Mark Jackson, Joel H. Burge
Penelope [her X mark] Bodine

State of Tennessee, Wilson Co. Court Nov. first 1847. The last will and testament of Penelope Bodine was exhibited in open court & fully proved by the oaths of Mark Jackson and Joel H. Burge the subscribing witnesses to the same, and is [ordered] by the court to be recorded as the last will of said deceased. Recorded Nov. 9th 1847 J F McClaine, clerk of Wilson County.

And Ronny sent this:

Wilson County Chancery Court Minutes, 1846-1853.
p. 256, 12 Jan 1850. This case came to be heard for the first time, concerning the sale of land owned by John Bodine, decd, to the highest bidder.

p. 273, 2 July 1850. "It appearing to the court that since the last term of this court Jefferson Bodine has departed this life..."

p. 341, 10 Jan 1851. "It appearing to the court that since the last term of this court Jefferson Bodin ___ of the Compt. has departed this life leaving a widow named Margaret and the following children who are all minors, Abbot, Mindy, Sarah, Miles, Nancy, Elizabeth, Susan, Sophia, Margaret & Thomas Bodine. Henry D. Lester has been appointed administrator of said Jefferson." The records goes on to designate Margaret Bodine, the widow, and the said Henry D. Lester as administrator and as next friend of the said minor children who are to be made parties complaintants in this case.

p. 386, 9 July 1851: There are eight unnamed heirs of John Bodine, deceased, who are entitled to shares of fund: Simpson Bennett who married Charity, is entitled to the share of Isaac Bodine by purchase; 1/8th of fund to be retained by clerk for the heirs of Polly Milton who died in Ilinois. The clerk and master shall ascertain where said children are and notify them of their right to this fund. Jefferson Bodine's share to his administrator.

p. 478, 8 July 1852: The land was sold to Henry D. Carter, the highest bidder, for $183.00.

Wilson County Chancery Court Minutes, 1857-1860.
p. 380, 7 July 1859: Isaac Bodine & others vs. Ex Parte. "This cause came to be heard this day 7th July 1859 before Chancellor Ridley..." "And it appearing to the court that Wiley Bodine is dead leaving no children; and that the children of Polly Milton, decd, have not been heard from for more than seven years, next before the presentations of this quititious--and that the said Wiley Bodine and the children of the said Polly Milton decd are entitled to two distributive shares in the estate of John Bodine decd, the same being about $48 to the share and now in the hands of the Clerk & Master of this court, and that the Brothers and sisters and their representatives of said Wiley and Polly decd who are before the court are their representatives and next heirs. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the Clerk & Master pay the said shares of Wiley and Polly to those who are entitled after taking refunding bonds from said distributions."

End of Ronny's info.

The witnesses at his baptism were "Andrew Manuel, Tryntje Bensen, huis v. van James Taylor." His mother's name was given as Annatje Sprong.

It is just a theory at this point, but I am assuming that this John Bodine, husband of Penny Willit of Wake County, North Carolina, was the son of Vincent Bodine (b. 1733). Vincent was the grandson of Jean Bodin of Medis, France. Ronny Bodine and I are working on this theory to flesh it out more.

It is also quite possible that this John Bodine is the father of the John Bodine of San Augustine, Texas who married Nancy Gunnels. That is also an assumption but it is the theory I am working with right now. This is based on some preliminary DNA testing and research by Ronny Bodine. The DNA testing leads one to think that Vincent Bodine is the grandfather of John Bodine of San Augustine, Texas. Vincent seems to be the only Bodine who had descendants in North Carolina at the right time.

Here is some 1790 Census data from Wake County, NC in the order that it appears in the Census:

1. Gr*bell Bodine: 2 males +16, one male 0-16, five females. Sheet 15, line 18.

2. John Bodine: 1 male +16, three females. Sheet 17, line 25.

3. John Bodine: He is over 16 and has two boys younger than 16. There are also two females in his household. Sheet 24, line 12.

4. Vinson Bodine: He is the lone male in the family and there are two females. Sheet 27, line 20.

5. John Bodine: He is over 16 and has one male under 16 in his household. There are two females in the house. Sheet 28, line 15.

Vincent Bodine (#4 above) is listed as "Vinson Bodine." He is the lone male in the family and there are two females. By this time, he would have been about 57 years old and most of his kids would have left home. A couple of his daughters were apparently the only children still living with them.

Living about 25 houses away is a John Bodine (#5 above) who is probably Vincent's son. That John is over 16 and has one male under 16 in his household. There are two females in the house. I think the John in this census is the same as this John who married Penelope Willit. The younger male would be his first and oldest son. The two females are his wife Penelope and a young daughter. She would be John and Penelope's oldest daughter. Since John Bodine and Penelope Willit married on December 22, 1784, I think the son was born about 1785 and the daughter about 1788. The 1820 Census of Wilson County shows that Penny Berdine (the head of household) did have five girls (unless one was the wife of one of her sons - which I doubt). My guess is that the two females born 1804 to 1810 are Charity and Winifred. The two females born 1794 to 1804 are Polly and Nancy. Only one female is unaccounted for - the one born 1775 to 1794. Penny is the female born before 1775.

John Bodine (#2 above) was the lone male in the family and there were three females. Many of his neighbors had the surname Bledsoe. My guess is that he is about the same age as John Bodine, the husband of Penelope Willit, but he would not be the father of John Bodine of San Augustine since there is no young male listed in this household. Maybe he is a cousin or something. It is unknown. He is pretty close to Gabriel Bodine in the Census. Gabriel is Vincent's son. He is not Gabriel or Gabriel's brother John's son. He is too old for that.

John Bodine (#3 above) is, I assume, younger since he seems to have quite a few children in his household. He is over 16 and has two boys younger than 16. There are also two females in his household. He could be the father of John Bodine of San Augustine, too. He is a pretty good match, but the fact that he lives farther away from Vincent goes against this possibility (but not too much against it). He lives kind of apart from the two groups of Gabriel and John, and Vincent and John. One thing is pretty certain, though. He is too old to be either Gabriel or Gabriel's brother John's son.

Another thing that points to John Bodine, the husband of Penelope Willit, being the father of John Bodine of San Augustine is the similarity in some of the family names. John of SA had a son name Thomas and a daughter named Winnie Jane. John and Penelope had a son name Thomas and a daughter named Winifred. Nancy was a name carried on by the John of SA's granddaughters. And Winnie remained in the family, too. It also seems strange that John and Penelope would not have had a son named John among all their children.

It should also be noted that there does not appear to be a good source for the names of all of John and Penelope's children. All we have is from what is listed below. This list of children has been put together in pieces from bits of information here and there. Before I added them, it did not include the two oldest children: John and his unknown sister.

By 1800, it looks like all these Bodines, except Vincent, had moved out of Wake County. I can't find any Bodines in the 1800-1830 censuses of Franklin County either. It looks like they may have moved out of North Carolina completely, but that is not for sure. They were probably on their way west. We don't know where John was during the 1800 and 1810 Censuses, but he was probably in Tennessee somewhere - maybe Wilson County. Ronny Bodine said, "The Tennessee censuses for 1790, 1800 and 1810 don't exist and not for East Tennessee in 1820. He may have been in Tennessee but without a census or statewide tax digest he will be like looking for a needle in a haystack." Ronny also said, "The earliest tax lists for Wilson County, 1804-1809, make no mention of any Bodine."

Posted by Rudie Slaughter at slaughter at earthling.net on March 28, 1999:

Looking for the parents of John and Penelope Bodine. Their children are (with varying degrees of certainty) Thomas, Jefferson, Wiley, Charity, Western, Wincy/Winnefred, and Isaac. 1770 birthdate of Penelope is deduced from Penny Berdine entries 1830 and 1840 Wilson Co. Census. Thomas, assumed to be the oldest, was born 1790-1794, consistent with mother's birthdate. Wilson Co. records follow:

Wilson Co., TN, Will Book 14 (or 1), (pg. 395?):
An account of the estate of John Bodine toke this 8th day of Jany. 1814.
Penny Bodine a lot of hoggs $12, Everet Mitchell one sow and pigs $2, Penny Bodine one sorrel mare [etc.....], Burwell Bodine one gun $8, Penny Bodine one bed and furniture $7, James Mitchell one kettle $7.25, Penny Bodine 4 axes & one wedge $8 [etc....] ][total] $254.68 1/4 The foregoing was exhibited at [March Farm?] 1814 and ordered to be recorded. Recorded the 3rd May 1814. attest John [Moore?], clerk of Wilson County Court.

1820 Census of Wilson Co., TN, about p. 401:
Peny Berdine: m < 10, m 10-16, m 16-26, m 26-45 2f 10-16, 2f 16-26, f 26-45, f 45+. The following is someone's guess as to who these people are: Isaac, Western, Wiley, Thomas, Wincy, Charity, Polly, unknown female (Wiley's wife Nancy?), unknown female (Thomas' first wife?, Penelope).
[Dave: My guesses: Isaac < 10, Western 10-16, Jefferson 16-26, Thomas 26-45, Charity and Winifred 10-16, Nancy and Polly 16-26, Unknown sister 26-45, and Penny is over 45. My assumption is that Wiley is older than Thomas and that he is out of the house now.]

1830 Census of Wilson Co., TN, p. 137:
Penny Berdine: m 15-20, f 15-20, f 20-30, f 60-70
[Dave: My guesses: Isaac 15-20, Winifred 15-20, Nancy 20-30, and Penny is 60-70.]

April 9, 1833, Tazwell Mitchell, executor of Thomas Mitchell, dec'd, to the heirs of John Bodine, dec'd, 100 acres on Beasley's Bend {Cumberland River, west of Hartsville} Deed Book W, pp. 375-376, Wilson Co., TN.

Wilson Co. Will Book 155:
State of Tennessee, Wilson County [in the clerk's hand] This is my last will & testament. Item 1st. I will that all my just debts be [paid]. Item 2cd. I will that my land be divided into two equal tracts, beginning [at the] southeast corner thence with Mark Jackson' line was to take half, [...] west with the west boundary line. The south tract for the benefit of [Winnefred] Bodine & Charity Bennet her lifetime then to her children. [...] Item 3rd. I will that the north tract be sold and after my debts are [paid,] the balance to be equally divided between the other legatees. Item 4th. I will that all my household and kitchen furniture [...] be applied to the benefit of Winnefred Bodine & Charity [Bennet] and her children.

October 1st 1847 attes. Mark Jackson, Joel [K?] Burge; Penelope [her X mark] Bodine State of Tennessee, Wilson Co. Court Nov. first 1847.

The last will and testament of Penelope Bodine was exhibited in open court & fully proved by the oaths of Mark Jackson and Joel [K?] Burge the subscribing witnesses to the same, and is [ordered] by the court to be recorded as the last will of said deceased. Recorded Nov. 9th 1847 J F McClaine, clerk of Wilson County.

Quarterly Court Records of Wilson Co., TN, March 25, 1852: Thomas Bodine of Montgomery Co. appoints Mark Jackson his power of attorney to receive from the proceeds of the sale of lands heretofore belonging to my mother, Penelope Bodine. Trust Deeds, pg. 167-168, Wilson County (transcribed by Partlow, p. 160).

Since Thomas, born about 1794, appears to be the eldest of the Bodine children and here names Penelope as his mother, she is here "proved" mother of all the children.

The following comes from the Wilson County, Tennessee Rootsweb mailing list:

*****

X-Message: #13 Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999
From: Brobpat at aol.com
Subject: Re: [TNWILSON-L] Evits and Bodine

JEFFERSON BODINE was dead by July 1, 1850 when HENRY D. LESTER was aptd admr with security ALEXANDER SIMMONS. [QCR< 1848-1856, -. 218]

JEFFERSON BODINE et al v WINCEY BODINE et al - It appears that JEFFERSON BODINE, one of the compls, has departed this life intestate since the last term of the court. [CCR, 1847-1853, 7-2-1850, p. 273]

JEFFERSON BODINE departed this life leaving a widow named MARGARET and the following children who are all minors: ABBOT, MIRANDY, SARAH, MILES, NANCY, ELIZABETH, SUSAN, SOPHIA, MARGARET and THOMAS BODINE. [Ibid., 1-10-1851, p. 341]

JOSEPH JOHNSON to JEFFERSON BODINE of Sumner Co., TN, for 149 acres on Cumberland River. [Partlow, DB P, 6-25-1834, p. 323f]

There are eight heirs of JOHN BODINE, deceased, who are entitled to shares of fund: SIMPSON BENNETT who married CHARITY, is entitled to the share of ISAAC BODINE by purchase; 1/8th of fund to be retained by clerk for the heirs of POLLY MILTON, who died in IL. The clerk and master shall ascertain where said children are. JEFFERSON BODINE's share to his admr. [Ibid., 7-3-1851, p. 386]

JOHN A. LESTER aptd guardian of SOPHIA M. and MARGARET BODINE, minor heirs of JEFFERSON BODINE, decd, securities WILLIAM J. LESTER and HENRY D. LESTER. [QCR, 1856-1858, 7-5-1858, p. 363]

JEFFERSON BODINE married MARGARET FURGASON, December 22, 1823, WCT by JOHN L. BONNER, JP, with THOMAS L. BONNER, bondsman

SARAH BODINE married JOHN MILES, March 14, 1850, WCT.

JOHN BODINE was dead by May 3, 1814, when his estate sale was reported. [QCR, 1802-1814, p. 395]

JOHN BODINE married PENELOPE (MITCHELL?)

It appears that WILEY BODINE died leaving no children and that the children of POLLY MILTON, decd, have not been heard from for more than 7 years. Sd WILEY

BODINE and the children of POLLY MILTON, decd, are entitled to 2 distributive shares of the estate of JOHN BODINE, decd. The brothers and sisters of sd WILEY and POLLY are before the court. [CCR, 1858-1860, 7-9-1859, p. 380]

SIMPSON BENNETT married CHARITY BODINE, February 15, 1843, WCT, by W> C. TOWSON, JP

WESTERN BODINE married REBECCA MOSELEY, February 6, 1840, WCT, by ISAAC HARVEY, JP; with S. B MURRAY, bondsman

REBECCA BODINE married SAMUEL CAPLINGER, September 18, 1844, WCT

MARGARET BODINE was dead by September 3, 1855 when HENRY D. LESTER was aptd admr with securities P. W. HARRIS and JOHN ORGAN. [QCR, 1852-1856, p. 495]

MARGARET BODINE, 38; NANCY BODINE, 21; THOMAS BODINE, 16; SUSAN BODINE, 12; ELIZABETH BODINE, 9; SOPHIA BODINE, 7; MARGARET BODINE, 5,; JOHN MILES, 22; and SARAH MILES, 19, all b. TN, were living in the 6th Civil District in 1850.

MARGARET was widow of JEFFERSON BODINE.

PENELOPE BODINE made her will October 1, 1847 and it was proved November 9, 1847. [W&I, 1843-1848, p. 395] She mentions:

(1) relationship not stated: WINEFORD BODOIN (sic) and CHARITY BENNETT and her children

(2) land to divided into two tracts: south tract for the benefit of the above; north tract to be sold

(3) other legatees: names not given

(4) executor: not named

witnesses were MARK JACKSON and JOEL M. BURGE

WESTERN BODINE was dead by October 4, 1841 when JAMES H. MOSELEY was aptd admr with securities ILA DOUGLASS and JAMES MARTIN. [QCR, 1840-1844, p. 434]

Settlement reported in which mention is made of two notes due on the estate of ISAAC BODINE, decd, the notes being on MOSES BODINE, who lives in the State of KY and is insolvent. [A&ES, 1839-1844, p. 257]

WESTERN BODINE married NANCY RUTCHLEDGE (sic) August 20, 1820, WCT, with JOHN STUART, bondsman

Bob

Here is information on Penelope's will: October 1, 1847 Penelope Bodoin, (also in Wills and Inventories, 1843-1848, p. 395) Wilson County Will Book 11, p. 395: State of Tennessee, Wilson County
[in the clerk's hand] This is my last will & testament. Item 1st. I will that all my just debts be [paid]. Item 2cd. I will that my land be divided into two equal tracts, beginning [at the] southeast corner thence with Mark Jackson' line was to take half, [...] west with the west boundary line. The south tract for the benefit of [Winnefred] Bodoin & Charity Bennet her lifetime then to her children. [...] Item 3rd. I will that the north tract be sold and after my debts are [paid,] the balance to be equally divided between the other legatees. Item 4th. I will that all my household and kitchen furniture [...] be applied to the benefit of Winnefred Bodoin & Charity [Bennet] and her children.
October 1st 1847 attes. Mark Jackson, Joel H. Burge
Penelope [her X mark] Bodine
State of Tennessee, Wilson Co. Court Nov. first 1847. The last will and testament of Penelope Bodine was exhibited in open court & fully proved by the oaths of Mark Jackson and Joel H. Burge the subscribing witnesses to the same, and is [ordered] by the court to be recorded as the last will of said deceased. Recorded Nov. 9th 1847 J F McClaine, clerk of Wilson County.

From: Barry Jernigan [bjernigan7040 at bellsouth.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010
Subject: Bodines in Wilson Co, TN Tax Lists, 1827-1829, scanned

Hi Dave:

I just wanted to let you know I just acquired a new book for my genealogy book library:

Thomas Partlow's "Wilson County, Tennessee Genealogical Resource Material, 1827 - 1869"

In it he has transcribed the tax lists for the county for 1827, 1828 and 1829. I have the following pages scanned into my computer and could send them in attachments if you want them:

Cover of the book
Front inside credits
Publishing info, ISBN & dedication
Preface
Table of Contents
1827 Tax List for Captain Jackson's Company (pages 167 and 168) includes the
following names:
Bodine, Jefferson
Bodine, Western
Bodine, Wiley
Bodine, Thomas (90 acres)
1828 Tax List for Captain Jackson's Company (pages 212, 213 and 214) includes no Bodines or variations of that surname and does include most of the other names from the 1827 list so I am sure it is the same company's tax
list 1829 Tax List for Captain Lester's Company (pages 261 and 262) includes the following name:

Berdine, Worton (undoubtedly a typo for Western Bodine). This tax list also includes most of the names from the previous two years' tax lists for Captain Jackson's Company including all of the Jacksons themselves from the
previous lists. So again I am certain it pertains to most of, if not all, of the households included in Captain Jackson's Company from 1827 and 1828. Maybe Captain Jackson died and was replaced by Captain Lester and Captain Jackson's son is the name in the Tax List or maybe Captain Jackson resigned and was
replaced by Captain Lester. I have a book of abstracts of wills for Wilson County, TN and I thought I might check that for the time period of these tax lists and see what might have happened to Captain Jackson and what
his given name was.

So, let me know if you want me to send these scanned pages in an attachment and if there are other surnames of interest to Bodine research in Wilson County, Tennessee, I may have more info on those. In the past I sent you
information on all mention of Bodines in any of the other books I have for Wilson County, Tennessee which was only a small amount. I think they were mentioned in like 1 or 2 deeds for Wilson County, TN and that was about it
for those books.

It seems like there was information on Whitworths in some other books that I have (Wilson and possibly in Davidson County, TN as well) so let me know if you want any of that info. I don't know if the Whitworths of middle
Tennessee had family connections to the Whitworths of Marshall County, Alabama or elsewhere. So, let me know that as well. Always happy to help out if I can.

Barry Jernigan
Smyrna, TN (Rutherford County)